My husband was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. Because the right kidney is so involved (mass is a bit larger than a baseball), the surgeon plans to remove the entire kidney. The doctor said he can’t guarantee it, but the mass appears to be localized to the kidney only and he feels fairly confident that once the kidney is removed, the cancer will be gone and no further treatment will be needed. Anyone here with personal experience or know someone who has experienced this? We’re trying to remain positive and we know that many people live with one kidney only. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I had a family member with Renal Cell Carcinoma. That’s a fairly good sized mass. Quick and competent surgical removal is the best, and really, only reasonable option. Once removed, the type of carcinoma and the degree of involvement can be more fully evaluated.
I’m sure you are aware that there is a chance it could have spread to surrounding tissue. There is a also a chance that the remaining kidney could eventually be involved, but they tend to be fairly slow growing, so it could be years before that is an issue.
@SplashMom , I’m sorry about your husband’s diagnosis. A close friend received this diagnosis more than 15 years ago. The kidney was removed and she has been fine ever since.
A friend of mine from college beat stage 4 kidney cancer 8 years ago. It led him into a whole new career as an advocate for patient involvement. You can find his website here: http://www.epatientdave.com/ I’m quite sure that if you wrote him, you would find a wealth of useful information. He’s very generous with his time and energy.
Thank you both for your replies. Yes, @JustOneDad, the doctor said he couldn’t guarantee that the cancer hasn’t spread, but the CT indicates that it’s in the right kidney only at this point. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that these are usually slow-growing cancerous tumors and this one may have started years ago. Thankfully, his other kidney looks “great” according to the doctor, but we certainly plan to take the best possible care. Thank you, @alwaysamom! I’m happy to hear of those outcomes like your friend’s and we hope that will be the case with hubby, too. Until recently, when he had that CT with contrast, he had never even had an IV, let along a hospital visit or surgery. This is all very new to him and he is understandably nervous, but we’re staying positive about it all.
I also know a man who lost a kidney to this many years ago and he is still doing very well at almost 80 y/o
My father had kidney cancer almost 20 years ago - his situation sounds similar to that of your husband, @SplashMom in that his tumor was confined to one kidney which was removed with no further treatment. He was 65 at the time and has had NO further problems with the cancer or with having only one kidney.
The diagnosis was a big shock to him, especially since he was one of those never-been-to-the-doctor people. He now says that the diagnosis was the worst part.
Good luck and hugs!
Not as lively as CC, but informative and supportive: http://www.cancerforums.net/index.php
I have a similar story here. A family member had a kidney removed about 15 yrs ago after a cancerous growth was found. He’s 81 and doing great with his remaining kidney!
Prayers for your husband for a good outcome.
@SplashMom, I’m very sorry to hear about your DH’s diagnosis. My father was diagnosed in 1996 with kidney cancer & had a kidney removed. He & my mother found the Kidney Cancer Association (http://www.kidneycancer.org/knowledge/learn/medical-education-cme/) to be very helpful for information about new clinical trials & treatments. Another good resource is the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney). Doing your homework will enable you to ask informed questions of your DH’s doctors and to make the best decisions for treatment options. Researching this disease also allows you to maintain some control over an illness where you may feel completely out of control.
You & your DH will be in my thoughts, and I hope for a good outcome.
Good wishes to you and splashdad.
We went through a scary melanoma cancer diagnosis for H when we were pregnant with our first child. He was given a 50% survival rate in first 5 years. That was 30 years ago.
We just somehow decided he was going to be fine . Got pregnant with second kid within 18 months.
Live your lives. Don’t let it consume your every thought.
Thank you all so very much! I am feeling better with each passing moment (and post). His surgery is scheduled for next Monday, July 27th. I promise to update afterwards. Each time I ask for advice here, I come away feeling very fortunate to have such a kind and caring community!
My mother had one kidney removed due to a malignant tumor that was encapsulated in 2008 at the age of 77. She has had no issues and recovered from surgery without a problem. I forget about her having this as it was fairly easy for her.
Sending good thoughts your way today @SplashMom .
@SplashMom I don’t know if you post here anymore, but while looking for info about Peace Corps for a friend, I stumbled into your posts. My father had his right kidney removed in 1987. They told us it was contained and we moved on with life, no radiation, no chemo. In 2010, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor which was renal cell carcinoma. Yes, the cancer cells were kidney cancer cells migrated to his brain. He died a few months later.
This was highly unusual, nothing else in the literature was anything like it, but it happened. I say all this just to tell you to be vigilant. Not to live every minute worrying, but pay attention and get checkups. If you notice anything unusual, pursue it with the doctor. Best of luck!
Would also love an update on your daughter 